Interesting Facts about the Ocellated Skink

An agile reptile with a small head and cylindrical body, Ocellated Skink’s are found in the arid regions of Greece, North Africa, Southern Italy, and Malta. They are small for skinks only growing to be 6-12in long and weighing 22-39gm, Ocellated Skinks are well known for their wide range of skin colors. They are highly sought after as pets because of their colors.

Did you know?

Female Ocellated Skinks give birth to live young through vivipary.

In captivity Ocellated Skinks are known to eat a wide range of foods including fruit, boiled eggs, and meat.

Ocellated Skinks are known to attack prey slightly larger than themselves by tackling it.

Ocellated Skinks main way of escaping predators is to run into nearby vegetation and hide.

Like many other reptiles Ocellated Skinks are able to shed their tails and generate a new one.

Lesson plan note: Reseachers believe Occelated Skinks populations are being damaged by the pet trade’s high demand for natural skinks. Ask students to come up with ideas of how the pet trade can stop taking Skink’s from the wild but still over the natural Skinks pet owners want.